Well our trip to Rome was absolutely fantastic.
We walked and walked… clocking up 20 000 plus steps per day plus devouring a mountain of pasta, a few pizzas and lots of tomato salads. Abbi developed a mint choc chip gelato addiction and managed to lead her Auntie astray, I now have a taste for Aperol Spritz which has been installed on my list of sins under the heading of ‘When in Rome’!
I’m so grateful to have the health and fitness to make the most of such an action packed tour – many of our fellow tourists were either elderly, very over weight and unfit, or quite infirm. One lady struggled to get across the airport to our hotel transfer and we had to pull over for her en route as she felt so unwell. Her step daughter announced that going to the Vatican was on her bucket list but I was seriously concerned that she might kick that bucket before she got there. Another fellow explorer was a very large gentleman who was concerned that he might not ‘fit’ in the catacombs (they were plenty big enough btw) but it made me think about how we put things off, “wait for our ship to come in” or “save for a rainy day”. We save clothes and crockery for best, say things like “when I’ve lost weight I will”‘ when I’m fitter I will’, “when I’ve cleaned, cleared, decorated…etc. I will ‘, in the meantime we miss out on our hearts desires and dreams.
“Life happens whilst we are busy making other plans”
Let’s live in the moment, love ourselves and each other, live our best life by taking care of our health in mind, body and spirit.
It’s half term this week which for parents can be tiring and an added stress, for teachers relaxing and restorative and for many of us just another week.
We have a full schedule of classes including our new Friday’s Freestyle Fitness Yoga class
Numbers are limited to ensure space and comfort for participants, so please book ASAP.
Daisy is in charge of our brilliant Barre Fit class on Wednesdays, last week – in addition to fabulous thighs, bums, tums and stretch work she included some excellent feet and ankle mobility and stability work… brilliant (Wednesdays, 7.30-8.30pm)
I know that the clocks have changed but DYBO have the perfect antidote for the winter blues…I have planned lots of awesome workouts and choreography for you as always! Winter could be a long miserable one if you don’t leap, spring, sweat and stretch your way through it. Let’s commit to help each other start 2020 in fabulous health and fitness.
A huge thank you to Daisy, Monica and Teresa for taking such fabulous care of you whilst I took my mini break. Knowing you are in such expert hands helps me relax and enjoy my time away from you all. Thanks Steve for looking after PT and to both Dec and Steve for opening up and setting up / down and of course to you all for looking after the teachers and each other. I feel very lucky to have you all in my fitness family.
Now I’m no longer in Rome I shall be back on my gut healthy diet so no more wheat pasta, pizza or booze for a while. I buy pea and lentil pasta as an excellent alternative which, with pesto or veggie and tomato based sauce, is lovely and low in starch and simple sugars and full of gut friendly fibre. Served with a green salad or Caprese salad, it’s a healthy tasty and satisfying meal.
Veggie Pasta Sauce
from healthylittlefoodies.com
A delicious veggie pasta sauce, crammed full of 6 different vegetables. Perfect for picky eaters or just a great way to add more veg to your family’s diet. No added salt or sugar. Great for a pasta sauce or for topping pizzas. It can also be used to replace tomato sauce in most recipes.
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Serves 10 portions (so you can freeze some!)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Onion, finely chopped
- 0.5 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Dried Mixed Italian Herbs
- 1.5 Celery stalks, trimmed and finely chopped
- 1 Leek, trimmed and finely chopped
- 1 Carrot, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 Bell Pepper, finely chopped
- 0.5 Courgette, finely chopped
- 2 x 400g cans/cartons Chopped Tomatoes
- 0.5 tbsp Tomato Puree
- 250ml (1 cup) Vegetable Stock
Instructions
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Heat the oil in a LARGE saucepan, over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and mixed herbs and stir for a couple of minutes.
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Add the remaining vegetables (celery, leeks, carrots, capsicum, courgettes) and cook, covered, for around 20 minutes. Continually check and stir the vegetables, you want them to soften but not burn.
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Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and stock. Stir until combined. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for a further 20 mins.
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Allow to cool slightly and then blend until smooth.
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Allow to fully cool before pouring the sauce into containers/zip lock bags for storing.
So as I write this from my aeroplane seat on our return flight, I wish you a Bellisimo week!!
(see you at class in a bit)
Love ya,
Ciao!
Helen
